Ben Stokes retired from all cricket after New Zealand Test series in June this year.
In addition to playing 122 Tests, 114 ODIs, and 43 T20Is for England, he disclosed that he is presently pursuing his Level 3 coaching certification and intends to become a coach after his playing career is finished.
Stokes stated that he would welcome the chance to coach England in the future and that he wants to become a coach to remain connected to the game.
“I’m doing my level three coaching now while I’m still playing, because I want, when the day comes that I’m not playing anymore, to be able to have all that stuff signed off and done. I know what I want to do in terms of staying within the game, which is to be a coach. And would I love to be the coach of England one day? Absolutely. I just really like the idea of being, again, like, in some form of leadership away from playing,” Stokes said on the Love of Cricket podcast.
Post the Ben Stokes era, England have gone back to Joe Root as Test captain while appointing Stephen Fleming as their new head coach, replacing Brendon McCullum. Stokes backs Root to achieve big success as England captain but fears that the role could take its toll.
“I wish him (Root) nothing but success. I hope he goes on and achieves amazing things in his role as captain, and I think he’s going to really enjoy it with Flem (Fleming). He’s a great man. I’ve worked with Flem before, but I told Joe, "I said my only worry is just you." And that’s all I really care about now, just because I have seen what he went through and how much he put himself through for someone,” Stokes said.
“He’s just always put the team first—he always comes second. And that’s just my only concern with it; it's just obviously knowing what he went through last time he was in charge of the team. I don’t want to see that ever happen again because I care for Joe a lot, but I wish him all the success in the world. I’m sure he’s going to do great. So, I’m looking forward to seeing what the team does going forward," he added.
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